Japanese Self Defense Force Invades California?

Japanese Invasion? No, not really! The above photo is of a Japanese GDSF Chinook Helicopter participating in military exercises in close coordination with US Navy & Marine forces off the coast of California. Some 250 GDSF along with three large warships including the Helicopter Carrier JS Hyuga are participating in these military exercises here in the United States. While many debate the relevance of Article 9 of Japan's War Imposed Constitution, we feel it is good to see Japan's Defense Forces expand their training missions to include amphibious warfare training outside of Japan. Of course not everyone is going to agree with this move. While some may see this as an aggressive move on the part of Tokyo, it is the reality that with recent instability in the region that has included recent provocations by both China and North Korea that Japan must increase it's defense capabilities.

Let's face it! WWII is over and it's a new dangerous world out there and for that reason Japan will need to step up its game and take a greater role in it's defense. And to do that Japan's military will have to re-learn how to take islands from hostile forces if they are to take the lead in any potential future island crisis. The combined Japanese Forces of all three branches of her military are participating with the 1st US Marine Expeditionary Force in Dawn Blitz 2013. This exercise includes troops and observers from Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. It is said that for the first time Japanese Helicopters will from hosterate from their own ships in beach landings and live fire exercises. According to the Time Magazine article that first reported this, Beijing has called for an official protest. Evidently, they have not forgotten the last time Japan practiced amphibious warfare. While this is only the first step in upgrading Japan's military capabilities, they still have a long way to go. In the face of US Forces and budgetary resources spread so thin, it will be up to Japan to take a larger role in both providing regional stability and for her own defense of her home islands.

In Commemoration: Yukio Mishima Remembered

It was on this day 42 years ago on November 25^th 1970 that visionary author & playwright Kimitake Hiraoka better known as Yukio Mishima and four members of the Tatenokai (The Shield Society – Mishima's own private Army) entered the Tokyo Headquarters of the Eastern Command of the Ground Self Defense Forces where he staged a failed coup d'etat. For 42 years since his ritual Seppuku that both shocked and mystified Japan and the larger world, Mishima's influence continues on to this day. We would be remiss to not say his actions as his life were not without controversy. Just ask any Isei over 50 and you will get some form of reaction to his name that helped inspire this blog. In commemoration of his death, we at American Mishima would like to offer this small tribute to his memory and great works of literature that earned him three nominations of the Nobel Prize in Literature. He was considered the Ernest Hemingway of Japan. Albeit there is no way we could easily summarize his complex life or his works in a few short paragraphs. Rather we leave you with this visual essay from the Paul Schrader film Mishima – A Life in Four Chapters. Please enjoy!

ばんざい! Japanase GSDF Forces Defy Beijing Invading Guam!

In a stunning unprecedented move, Japanese military force known as the Ground Self Defense Force in the most provocative show of military force since the end of WWII, defied Beijing and invaded Guam. なに? That makes about as much sense as America invading Iraq to avenge 9/11! なんちゃて! No seriously. We're kidding. Actually this photo is of Japan's GSDF participating in joint maneuvers with the armed forces of the United States military to demonstrate Japan's ability to defend remote islands such as the disputed Senkaku Islands in the South China Sea. With tensions high between China and Japan, we hope this dispute simmers over without any armed conflict. We can't see the PRC with all it's economic success going to war over a couple uninhabited rocks in the sea. Maybe in Mao's day but not today. But if the very unlikelihood comes to fruition, you know whose side we'll be on. Good luck boys & stay frosty! がんばってください!